US reaffirms alliance, expresses hope for 'productive relationship' with next Korean president

The United States said Thursday it will continue to be a "steadfast ally" of South Korea and expressed hope for "a productive relationship" with the country's next president after former President Park Geun-hye was ousted from office."We will continue to work with Prime Minister Hwang (Kyo-ahn) for the remainder of his tenure as acting President, and we look forward to a productive relationship with whomever the people of South Korea elect to be their next president," State Department acting spo

March 10, 2017

S. Korea, US to discuss N. Korean nuclear threat: spokesman

Top diplomats of South Korea and the United States will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in dealing with North Korea and its nuclear program when they meet next week in Seoul, the foreign ministry here said Thursday. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (L) meets U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Germany on Feb. 16, 2017. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will stay in South Korea for two days starting from March 17 during which he will meet with

March 9, 2017

Chinese envoy urges Korea to suspend deployment of THAAD battery

Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Qiu Guohong on Thursday urged South Korea to suspend the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in the country."The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery must be scrapped immediately. If that is impossible, it should at least be suspended to leave room open for Seoul and Beijing to negotiate," the envoy was quoted as saying by Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Liberty Korea Party. (Yonhap)Yoon said he held a private meeting with th

March 9, 2017

Bolivia names street after Korea as symbol of friendship, cooperation

Bolivia has named one of its streets after South Korea in a show of respect and friendship for the country that helped build its new town in Santa Cruz, the Seoul government said Thursday.The 80-meter wide, 9.85-kilometer-long road bisecting the new town of Santa Cruz was named "Avenida Corea" or Korea Avenue in a ceremony held Wednesday (Bolivia time), according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The rendered image (on left), provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure

March 9, 2017

S. Korea calls for world action against NK use of VX at chemicals arms meeting

South Korea has called for a joint international response to North Korea's suspected use of the banned VX nerve agent in the recent assassination of its leader's half brother during the latest session of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.In his key note speech during the OPCW's executive council session in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Choi Jong-moon underscored North Korea's chemical weapons threats

March 8, 2017

S. Korea, Mexico agree to work together to denuclearize N. Korea

Vice foreign ministers of South Korea and Mexico have agreed to continue their countries' collaboration to denuclearize North Korea and improve its human rights situation, Seoul officials said Wednesday.During their talks in Mexico on Tuesday, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Chong-ghee and his counterpart Carlos Alberto de Icaza also discussed North Korea's recent assassination of its leader Kim Jong-un's half brother Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. South K

March 8, 2017

China's top diplomat renews strong objection to THAAD deployment

China's top diplomat on Wednesday voiced his strong objection to the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea, calling it a mistake that threatens Seoul's security going forward. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the renewed opposition as Seoul and Washington recently started the process of deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in South Korea.During his meeting with press on the sidelines of the annual session of China's parliament, Wang said that

March 8, 2017

Video of alleged son of Kim Jong-nam emerges

A video has emerged in which a man claims to be the son of Kim Jong-nam, the recently assassinated half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, triggering speculation over his possible relocation out of Asia and current whereabouts. “My name is Kim Han-sol, from North Korea, part of the Kim family,” the man says in the clip. “My father was killed a few days ago. I’m currently with my mother and my sister.” He went on to say he was “very grateful to” an organization or person before the audio

March 8, 2017

S. Korea, US, Japan defense officials discuss response to NK missile threat

Senior defense officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan on Wednesday condemned North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches and agreed to coordinate on how to deal with its provocations, the defense ministry said. Wee Seung-ho, deputy minister for policy, held a video conference with David F. Helvey, US assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, and Satoshi Maeda, director general for defense policy. (Yonhap)They strongly condemned the North's ballis

March 8, 2017

White House: THAAD deployment 'national security matter' for S. Korea, Japan

The deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system is a "national security matter" for South Korea, the White House said Tuesday, reaffirming it would go ahead as scheduled despite China's protest.   Earlier Tuesday, South Korea's Defense Ministry and US Forces Korea said they have brought two interceptor-missile launchers and other elements of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense into the US base in Osan, south of Seoul.The move marks the beginning of a deployment that China has vehemently op

March 8, 2017

Tillerson to visit Korea next week

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit South Korea next week in his first trip to the region that will also take him to Japan and China, the State Department announced Tuesday.Trillerson will be in Tokyo on March 15-17, Seoul on March 17-18, and Beijing on March 18, the department said. (Yonhap)"In each country, Secretary Tillerson will meet with senior officials to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues, including strategic coordination to address the advancing nuclear and missile th

March 8, 2017

China threatens more retaliation as Seoul, Washington start THAAD deployment

China on Tuesday threatened counteractions against South Korea and the US' deployment of the high-tech defense system THAAD which started this week. Earlier in the day, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense and the US Forces Korea said they have brought two interceptor-missile launchers and other elements of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense into the US base in Osan, south of Seoul. Parts of THAAD system arrive in Korea (Yonhap)"We solemnly object to South Korea and the US' deployment of

March 7, 2017

[Newsmaker] Sino-US rivalry puts Seoul on edge

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is a core element of the US’ multilayered missile defense program, designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at altitudes of 40-150 kilometers during the terminal stage of their flight. Built chiefly by US defense giant Lockheed Martin, a THAAD battery typically consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, a fire control and communications unit and an AN/TPY-2 X-Band radar. Before interception, the

March 7, 2017

Trump agrees to work with S. Korea, Japan to show N. Korea 'very dire consequences'

US President Donald Trump agreed Monday to work with South Korea and Japan to show North Korea "very dire consequences" for its provocative actions, the White House said.Trump reached the agreement when he spoke separately by phone with South Korea's acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a day after the North fired a barrage of four ballistic missiles. US President Donald Trump (Yonhap)"President Trump emphasized the United States' ironclad commitment to stand wi

March 7, 2017

S. Korea, Japan defense chiefs warn NK over missile provocation

The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan vowed Tuesday to ensure North Korea "pays the price" for its provocations, one day after it test-fired four ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, the defense ministry said.South Korea's Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his counterpart Tomomi Inada held phone talks to discuss North Korea's latest missile launch, the ministry said. South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo talks to his counterpart Tomomi Inada. (Yonhap)They shared the view that North K

March 7, 2017

S. Korea, US, Japan request emergency meeting of UN Security Council over NK missile launches

South Korea, the United States and Japan requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss North Korea's latest missile launches, officials said Monday.The council is likely to hold a meeting on Wednesday after British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft returns from a trip, officials said.After the meeting, the council is expected to adopt a press statement condemning the launches just as it did after the North test-fired a newly developed intermediate-range ballistic missile last mon

March 7, 2017

Malaysia embraces automation, welcomes Korean expertise in manufacturing

KUALA LUMPUR -- In the age of automation, Malaysia is making a wholesale transformation of its industrial landscapes and boosting its global competitiveness, according to the country’s top investment officer. From semiconductors to oil and gas, food and beverages, the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia is incorporating the latest technologies in automation into the “smart manufacturing” processes, which cover a whole spectrum of industrial value chains. “Smart manufacturing is the way forw

March 6, 2017

Malaysia’s halal cosmetics vie to go global

KUALA LUMPUR -- Being a Muslim, Suraiya Hanafi prays twice during the workday, for which she has to cleanse her face of makeup. Suraiya is CEO of Tropika, a cosmetics firm in Malaysia that produces virgin coconut oil-based products for mothers and babies and which is striving to carve out a niche in the competitive global marketplace of beauty products. Malaysia is a country where over 60 percent of the population practices Islam. Islamic teachings and values can come to define many aspects of a

March 6, 2017

ASEAN abounds with treasures at golden jubilee

Recalling the tropical allures of Bali, an Indonesian island with turquoise blue sea, silken beaches, volcanic mountains and serene rice fields, Kim Young-sun describes his past ambassadorship with a whiff of nostalgia. “I never get bored visiting there,” he says, adding Bali -- also called the “Island of the Gods” -- provides an awe-inspiring mix of bodily and spiritual gratifications. “My other favorite destination is Lake Toba, the world’s largest volcanic lake, measuring 100 kilometers by 30

March 6, 2017

S. Korea to blast N. Korea for use of banned chemical at OPCW meeting

South Korea plans to bring up North Korea's recent use of the lethal VX nerve agent in the assassination of its leader's half brother in a bid to draw international attention to the North's chemical weapons threat during an international meeting this week, the foreign ministry said Monday.The foreign ministry's Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Choi Jong-moon plans to shed light on the case in his keynote speech to be delivered on Tuesday at an executive council session of the

March 6, 2017